Awards for cops who saved footy fan's life

Sgt Robert Gray, 47, and PC Adam Barton, 35, were on crowd control duty at the end of the Lincoln City match against Exeter on March 30 when they were called across to Michael Bull, 62, of West Street, Billinghay, who was found lifeless, with barely a pulse in his car.

By the time PC Barton got to the passenger side of the vehicle Mr Bull’s pulse had stopped. The two officers immediately lowered the seat and began administering cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and clearing his airways.

Minutes later paramedics who had been on duty at the match arrived with an ambulance, removed Mr Bull from the car and continued the battle to save him. It still took 20 minutes for a pulse to return but after hospital treatment Mr Bull went on to make a full recovery and has since returned to the football ground to personally thank all his life-savers, but is yet to get to meet the two police officers.

The two officers won the praise of the doctor who treated Mr Bull at Lincoln County Hospital. He said that if he had not received their treatment so soon after he collapsed Mr Bull would have died.

Now the two officers have been awarded Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificates and have won the personal praise of Andrew Chapman, Secretary of the Royal Humane Society.

As he announced the awards at the Society’s London headquarters he said : “Time is of the absolute essence in situations like this. The sooner CPR can be started the better the chances are of the person recovering.

“They were the right people in the right place at the right time.”

Sgt Gray commented: “After the game my colleague and I were approached by a fan who said that a man in a car looked in a really bad way.

“We followed the fan who pointed out Mick, who had collapsed. Gaining entry to the car, I found him unresponsive and having what’s known as agonal breathing. We immediately started CPR and called for medical support. Fortunately, as the match hadn’t long finished, the medical support team were still near to the ground and were able to respond quickly.

“I am just pleased that we were in the right place at the right time and with the training we’ve received, able to help.”

All Lincolnshire Police officers have first aid and CPR training.

Mr Bull has had to give up work as a driving instructor having had bypass surgery and a defibrillator fitted in his chest since the event, but said: “It is brilliant they have earned this award, they fully deserve it. They were literally life savers and kept me going until the first responders and ambulance get there.

“These two policemen, plus the EMAS personnel and the nurses and first aid team at Lincoln City were superb, and I would not be here today but for them.

“Learn CPR everybody, it really can save lives!”